Since BIS made hallmarking with a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number mandatory for gold jewellery in notified districts, every hallmarked piece carries a 6-digit alphanumeric code laser-marked on the article. Jewellers from Mumbai's Zaveri Bazaar to small-town showrooms now handle HUID numbers daily. At the same time, more stores are adopting RFID to speed up stock counts. A common question is: if the piece already has a HUID, why add an RFID tag? And if we use both, how do they fit together?

HUID and RFID do different jobs

HUID is an identity marked on the metal itself. It links the article to its hallmarking record - purity and the assaying and hallmarking centre - and it stays with the piece for life. But it is tiny, needs magnification to read, and cannot be read in bulk or at a distance.

RFID is a removable tag attached to the piece while it is in your stock. It can be read in bulk, without line of sight, in seconds. It is ideal for counting, locating and controlling movement - but it is removed at sale and has nothing to do with purity certification.

Used together, HUID gives you regulatory identity, and RFID gives you operational speed.

Linking the two in software

The simplest and most useful approach is to treat each piece as one record in your inventory software, holding both identifiers:

• Internal item or tag number (encoded in the RFID tag)
• HUID number
• Design and category
• Gross weight, net weight, stone and making details
• Supplier, purchase date and cost
• Current location - counter, tray, safe, repair, approval

When a piece arrives from the hallmarking centre or a supplier, staff record its HUID and attach an RFID tag. From then on, every RFID scan can show the HUID on screen without anyone reading the tiny marking.

Practical benefits for jewellers

Faster, more complete audits

An RFID count tells you which tagged pieces are present. Because each tag is linked to a HUID, your audit report can list present and missing pieces by HUID, which is useful for internal controls and for answering queries.

Error-free billing

Reading the RFID tag at billing fills in the HUID, weights and other details automatically, so they print correctly on the invoice. Manual typing of HUIDs is slow and error-prone.

Clear records for old gold exchange and returns

When a customer returns or exchanges a piece bought from you, the HUID lets you trace it back to its original sale record, even though the RFID tag was removed at sale.

Supplier reconciliation

For goods received from manufacturers, scanning the RFID tags of a parcel and comparing linked HUIDs against the supplier's list highlights discrepancies quickly.

Workflow at goods inward

1. Receive the parcel and verify the supplier's list.
2. For each piece, record or import the HUID and weights.
3. Print and encode an RFID jewellery tag with your item number, and optionally a barcode, weight and price.
4. Attach the tag and scan it once to confirm it is linked to the right record.
5. Assign the piece to a counter or tray.

With practice, this adds little time per piece and saves far more later.

Things to keep in mind

• HUID requirements and the list of covered articles are set by BIS and can change. Keep your software flexible enough to handle updates and exceptions.
• Not every item in a store may carry a HUID - for example, silver or exempt articles - so your system should allow records without one.
• RFID tags are for stock control; never use the RFID tag number as a substitute for the HUID on documents.
• Train staff to check that the tag is attached to the correct piece, especially for similar designs.

Hardware for a typical showroom

Most stores need jewellery RFID tags, a tag printer, one or two handheld UHF readers, a desktop reader at the billing counter and, optionally, RFID gates. Mobile computers with built-in RFID can double as stock-taking devices; see our range of mobile computers.

Indian RFID provides jewellery tags, readers, gates and software for jewellers across India. To see how HUID and RFID can work together in your store, WhatsApp +91-9717122688 or email gm@indianbarcode.com and we will arrange a walkthrough.

Contact Indian RFID

Indian RFID is the RFID arm of Mindware, which also delivers complete barcode solutions, barcode labels and the full range of Mynds brand barcode ribbons.

Phone / WhatsApp: +91-9717122688
Email: gm@indianbarcode.com
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